Friday, September 25, 2009

Thursday Thirteen

**wow folks--this post has been sitting in the drafts folder since January 31, 2006. All but number 1 is still true. So I guess that's something! Enjoy! :) **-sadie

So I've decided to be unique this week, just like everybody else. I am doing this more so that I can have confidence in my own ability to cut and paste code than anything else. I'm planning, at some point in the future, to learn something about Blogger so I can spruce this place up. This is a beginning.

2. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia but was born in Peterborough, Ontario and grew up in Port Colborne, On.

3. My best friend has a blog, and that's how I decided to start one too.

4. When I started my blog, I didn't tell anybody.

5. I got outed by accident, because I was too stupid to comment anonymously on my BF's daughter's blog.

6. Being outed as a Blogger has turned out for the better--I love having the daily contact with Chris, as well as with the other amazing bloggers to whose lives I've become addicted.

7. I hate necessary mundane life tasks like filing taxes, renewing drivers licences, and paying parking tickets. To the extent that I put them off until I am threatened with legal action.

8. Then I put them off some more.

9. I was issued a $1000 fine for failing to produce my car insurance because it was too much of a hassle to drive to the police station and show them my proof of insurance. Which I had, but couldn't find because it was in a box of stuff after I moved.

10. I am NOT independently wealthy. And doing stupid shit like #9 means that I never will be.

11. I pay all my bills automatically online, because it means I never have to be bothered to remember to do it when the invoice arrives at the house.

12. I need to marry someone who is incredibly good with money so that I don't retire as a bag lady. I want to retire as someone with a home, nice stuff, and the ability to travel.

13. I am incredibly independent and self-sufficient, but I miss having someone in my life every day to love. And if you repeat that to anyone, I'll have you killed.

Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Hmmm.

The concept of Twit*ter annoys me, and yet that seems to be how I'm blogging these days-140 characters at a time.

I've been looking half-heartedly for a new apartment as mine is too tiny for words. But now I need to get serious about it. Mainly because winter is coming, and with no entry way for shaking off/dripping the snow and rain, so the apartment will be a big sopping mess for 4 months straight. But now, because I found mould in my bathroom this morning.

When the washer fills/drains water comes up through the bathroom floor. Apparently stopping that from happening was not enough. Mould, people. I see major construction in the not so distant future. Bah.

The high-school ex (HSX) continues to message me, and while it's nice to be in touch, it's a bit odd just how MUCH he's in touch. It's funny, too, how odd a thing it is to know someone so very well with regards to their personality and behaviour and yet know nothing about their life for the last 15 years. For instance, who knew that his 'passion' was for cooking?! And he's opening a catering company on the side? Boggles me, it does.

I'm very quick to anger lately, and I don't like that. I've been frustrated and bored at work. I need to get off my butt and start looking for something different, but the motivation isn't there. So I guess that means things aren't that bad! :). I DO need a vacation, but cannot afford one right now, so that's out. I am not the type of person that can take days off and just hang out at home and come out feeling relaxed. That makes me depressed that I didn't do anything productive with my time. Anybody want to win the lottery and cut me in on the proceeds? I didn't think so. Oh well--back to the drawing board.

I've been trying to come up with some sort of plan to make money on the side myself, and I have to say I'm not doing so well with it. Well, that's not true, it's just that I require more free time than I currently have to put the plans into action.

Plan A: gluten free Christmas baking. Cookies and squares platters for people who think there's nothing for them to eat at Christmas fests. I could do this at home and put up signs at the grocery store and on Kijiji.

Plan B: event planning. I have quite a lot of experience with this, as I used to arrange and coordinate company picnics for a living. I'll plan, arrange, set up, serve at, and clean up your private event in your home.

Plan C: errand running. I.e. Picking up groceries, dropping off and fetching dry-cleaning, Christmas gift shopping for people who hate malls but have not yet embraced the interweb. The problem with this is not knowing how many people would use such a service, and how much to charge for convenience. I'd have to play it by ear and see-standing in line at Toys R Us has to be worth A LOT! :)

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions and limited in saleable skills.

I guess I had more than 140 characters worth of stuff after all. Lucky you! *tee-hee!*

Have a lovely day, Poppets!

P.s. For those of you in the know, my baby sis got engaged on Tuesday night! :) no date for a while, but quite a lovely ring.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Yawn

It seems that I can never get to sleep before midnight (or later!) and when I am up at 5 AM that's far too late. Even the mornings that I start work late I need to be up by 8 AM. It's just not enough.

Today we have big-wigs visiting. They've been coming to visit for over a month now and never showing up, so it will be nice to finally get it over with. Everyone has been working so hard to prepare for the royal visit and it's disappointing when they don't show up.

DD is coming down this weekend, and while I haven't seen him in almost a month I am slightly annoyed about it. I have no idea WHY I am annoyed by his visit-but I am.

Honestly, I've been sliding into a bit of a funk lately. I didn't notice at first, but this last week has made it more clear to me. There is still so much going on that is on the downhill side of life that it's been rather difficult to be Little Suzy Sunshine. I hope that depression is not going to become a frequent visitor in my life-I am definitely NOT a fan! :)

The dog is good. The apartment is still minute. And messy. The car is still AWOL. BUT-I have some great friends. I live in a city with public transit-however inefficient it may be. I am very securely employed. I am quite healthy. Things could be FAR worse.

The high-school BF visited back in July with his kids. It was a blast. Now, after more than 15 years of non-contact, he keeps messaging me with updates on his day, his festing, even drunken photo texts of the bonfire. It's nice to be in touch-the familiarity of an old friend was instantaneous-but I'm not sure that he's not projecting a little bit. He's recently (not sure how recent) separated, and I think that the instant familiarity may have hit him in the wrong way.

Regardless, it's nice to be in touch again. It's pretty harmless anyway, considering that I live 4 provinces and a 22 hour drive away. :). I don't always have to be responsible for other people's feelings, no matter how much I think I do! :)

The drain from the washing machine is leaking its way into my bathroom. I know this because puddles are working their way up from the sub floor and settling on top of the linoleum. This is not good and needs dealt with immediately. The bad parts-a) it's getting cold out and I don't need a 3'x6' construction zone; b) I have only the one, very tiny bathroom; c) it's not going to be a quick and easy fix. It will require removing at least one wall, likely two, and replacing the entire sub floor. I dread it-which is why I haven't mentioned It to the landlord yet, even though I've known for a couple of days. This has obviously been going on for a long while so I can't imagine that 3 more days (until I have a day off and can tidy up the apartment) will hurt too much.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Interesting.

Today's my day off--and it was lovely so far. I accomplished more than usual, but that's not saying much! :)

I read a metric-tonne of blog posts, and in one of my favourites, I found this list. It was originally written by H.Jackson Brown, Jr. (author of Life's Little Instruction Book, among others).

I quite liked it. Enough to re-post it here--so I hope you find one or two tips that you enjoy too.

21 Suggestions for Living Wisely and Well - H.Jackson Brown, Jr.

1. Teach by example.2. Bless each day with a generous act.3. Never waste and opportunity to tell someone that you love them.4. Do something every day that maintains good health.5. Take family vacations whether you can afford them or not.6. Stand up for your principles even if you stand alone.7. Judge your success by the degree that you're enjoying peace, health and love.8. Be there when people need you.9. Be devoted to your spouse and dedicated to your children.10. Be of service to your community and to your country.11. Have courage when things go wrong.12. Tell the truth.13. Maintain your resources wisely.14. Be satisfied, don't grumble.15. Don't overlook life's small joys while searching for big ones.16. Discover the power of prayer.17. Discover the power of forgiveness.18. Love people more than things.19. Look for the good.20. Search for the truth.21. Hope for the best.

I think this is a fantastic list, and a really great reminder to be present in one's day to day life. Don't let your life be a series of things that happen to you, or around you. Be an active participant, and EXPERIENCE your life. Something we all forget to do, now and again.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Fine then.

I guess that since the fates seem to be conspiring against me by leaving me no blogs to read, no tv to watch, and no sleep to have--I might as well blog.

Things are...messed up. Getting better, but messed the fuck up. The finances are in the gutter. The job is just Meh at the best of times. And I'm still waiting on an expense cheque from my move (11 months ago--but who's counting?) My car is still being held hostage in Sackville (this is the end of month 3) -- where it will remain until I get my expense cheque and can pay the ransom.

I'm not hating being a bus person, but I think that's mainly because I've been quite lucky to work with some great folks. My boss picks me up every morning at 6:45 AM, saving me an extra 15 minutes at the house. I can generally get a ride home at night-time, saving me the 1.5 hours it takes to make a 10 minute trip home. I've just had to bus that a couple of times--and I don't actually mind it. The only thing that I really dislike about it, is the amount of time it adds to my already long days at work, and that it keeps me from my dog that much longer. I feel quite guilty about the amount of time he spends home alone.

I'll likely continue the bus commute for any day shifts that I work, even once the car comes home. The timing is convenient, and it will save me a ton of money on gas and wear and tear. I just don't like mooching rides at night time, because even though I've driven people home hundreds of times over the last 10 years, I hate asking. I know most people don't mind, but I don't like to count on that at 10:00 pm. Particularly in the rain or snow.

I have Wednesday off, and my mission for Wednesday is to piece together a current resume. I don't have one. I opened the classifieds on Saturday morning at work, and a job jumped out at me and screamed "SADIE!!! THIS IS FOR YOU!!!" so I figure that I should listen or something. The application deadline is next Monday, so I have a bit of time for tweaking.

I've been thinking a lot over the last couple of weeks about what I want/need to change in my life. I work too many hours at my current job for the limited amount of opportunity for growth that is available to me. I love what I do, and I'm quite good at it; but if there's nowhere to GO from here, then I need to go OUT from here. And, dammit, I want a life again. I want to take Gaelic class in the evenings. I'd like to develop a routine. I'd love to have my evenings and weekends free, like most of the mythical people I read about on the internet. I've never known any of those people...but I think I'd like to be one of them. I'd like to try it, at least.